Member organisations of the International Partnership Group for Azerbaijan (IPGA) are deeply concerned by the continued politically motivated imprisonment of persons in Azerbaijan for exercising their right to freedom of expression. The IPGA calls on the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to take immediate action to ensure the release of these persons and to hold Azerbaijan accountable for its obligations as a Member State. Although Azerbaijan is bound by the European Convention on Human Rights and international law to respect and protect the right to freedom of expression,...


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On the 10th of February two CSF Steering Committee members Jeff Lovitt and Leila Alieva participated in the Euronest Standing Committee on Political Affairs, Human Rights and Democracy that meets twice a year, consisting of European Parliament delegation and the Eastern European Partners' (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine) delegations. The speakers from European External Action Service (Gunnar Wiegand) and the European Commission (Michael Koehler) talked about the prospect of the Eastern Partnership until the 2015 Summit in Riga and the European Neighborhood Instrument for 2014-2020. Jeff...


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FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “International events like COP29 should not be used to gloss over the repressions of Azerbaijan’s authoritarian regime. Instead, attendees—politicians, activists and journalists—discussing climate change in Baku should also raise awareness of the political prisoners unjustly detained and suffering in Azerbaijan’s prisons.” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms Azerbaijani political refugee Vidadi Isgandarli, who resides in France, was attacked on Sunday and is in critical condition. Exiled journalist Ganimat Zahid reported this on his social media...


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FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “Citizens of other countries are still able to enter Azerbaijan via land borders, meaning that the closure only applies to Azerbaijani citizens, which violates the country’s Constitution.” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms On September 25, the trial of human rights activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev continued at the Baku Court of Grave Crimes. Bakhtiyar Hajiyev filed a motion stating that he does not wish to participate in the upcoming court hearings due to reasons such as the "artificial prolongation of the process" and the "rejection of all motions." Hajiyev...


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FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “Azerbaijan positioning itself as peacemaker but is accused of ethnic cleansing and imprisoning opponents...” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms Former MP and businessman Nazim Baydamirli is facing a 9-year prison sentence. On September 16, the prosecutor made this request at the Baku Court of Grave Crimes, claiming that the former MP's demand for money through blackmail had been proven in court. However, Baydamirli disagrees. Before the prosecutor's statement—when the judge suggested concluding the investigation—he objected, stating that there were...


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